1. What are complex sentences?
Grammar Toolkit
Complex sentences
What are complex sentences?

2. Grammar Toolkit
Complex sentences
A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
The dominoes toppled when I touched them.
Because I was alone, no-one knew who had touched them.
main
subordinate
main
subordinate
The subordinate clauses add meaning to the main clause.

3. Grammar Toolkit
Complex sentences
Where are the clauses in these complex sentences? What role does each subordinate clause have?
Before the sun rises, pack your gear quietly.
The blue shirt, which is my favourite, was torn to shreds.
You’ll be in big trouble when Dad gets home.
Bananas are expensive now because storms destroyed
the crops.
adverbial
main
main
adjectival
main
main
adverbial
main
adverbial

4. Grammar Toolkit
Complex sentences
A compound-complex sentence combines compound and complex sentences: two or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.
When the movie starts, you get the popcorn and I’ll turn off the lights.
main
subordinate
Dad wanted to munch popcorn while the movie was playing, but Mum said that was bad manners.
main
subordinate

5. Grammar Toolkit
Complex sentences
A clause has a subject (the person or thing the clause is about) and a predicate (the verb plus any objects and modifiers).
A complex sentence has one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
A compound-complex sentence has two or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.

6. Grammar Toolkit
Complex sentences
The End